Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to resign

Hagel's departure marks the surprise end to a short tenure in the Pentagon by one of the president's former Senate colleagues and comes as the U.S. military picks up its military campaign against terror groups in Iraq and Syria. We'll have the latest news here.

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 4:33:20 PM

President Obama announces Chuck Hagel's resignation

by zbyronwolf

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by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 2:52:49 PM

News of Hagel's departure was broken by the New York Times, which published a story just after 9 a.m. Less than an hour later and we know the president is going to make the official announcement at the White House just after 11 a.m. ET.

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 3:05:06 PM

Hagel wrote to White House in October complaining about Syria policy

We still don't know the details about why Hagel is leaving, whether he wants to go or whether the President asked him to. What we do know is that Hagel had recently raised alarm bells about the administration's Syria and ISIS policy.

Here's what Barbara Starr wrote Oct. 30th:

Earlier this month, while on an trip to Latin America to discuss climate change, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagelsat down and wrote a highly private, and very blunt memo to National Security Advisor Susan Rice about U.S. policy toward Syria.

It was a detailed analysis, crafted directly by Hagel "expressing concern about overall Syria strategy," a senior U.S. official tells CNN. The official directly familiar with the contents declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Hagel so far has not made his concerns public and is not likely to, according to the official. It comes at a time when the Pentagon is well aware there is growing, but anonymous chatter, that some White House officials are unhappy with Hagel's performance. So far there is no indication the President Barack Obama shares those views.

The focus of the memo was "we need to have a sharper view of what to do about the Assad regime," the official said. The official refused to provide additional details, but did not disagree with the notion that Hagel feels the U.S. is risking its gains in the war against ISIS if adjustments are not made.

The official word of Hagel's resignation has not yet come, but already Washington has turned to the question of who will replace him.

Jim Acosta reports that a senior administration official has three potential names off the bat: Michele Fournoy and Ashton Carter, both former Pentagon officials and Sen. Jack Reed, a West Point graduate and Rhode Island Democrat. In the waning years of a presidential administraton, it would be an interesting move for Reed to leave the Senate.

Flournoy was the third ranking Pentagon official for most of President Obama's first term. Back in May Flournoy talked to CNN's Christiane Amanpour about Obama's foreign policy when he announced a policy shift back in May. That seems like a long time ago now, before further pivots to address ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

by zbyronwolf

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 3:28:53 PM

McCain, who challenged Hagel, will lead confirmation hearings

It should be noted that Hagel's successor will undergo confirmation hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee and next year it will be chaired by Sen. John McCain, an arch critic of the president on foreign policy.

Hagel and McCain were longtime Senate colleagues and both are Vietnam veterans. They broke over the Iraq war and McCain put very pointed questions to Hagel at Hagel's confirmation hearing in 2013. This video is must-see Internet TV:

Flashback: McCain and Hagel square off at confirmation hearings

by zbyronwolf

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 3:35:02 PM

Why a former general can't be Secretary of Defense -

A note from Barbara Starr -

Just FYI before there is any speculation about a potential general/admiral becoming Secretary of Defense…there is this law….

(a)There is a Secretary of Defense, who is the head of the Department of Defense, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. A person may not be appointed as Secretary of Defense within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force.

From CNN's Alexandra Jaffe - Hagel has been rumored to be on his way out for weeks, and as recently as last week dodged questions about his continued tenure at the Pentagon.

“First of all, I serve at the pleasure of the President,” Hagel told PBS on Oct. 18th, asked whether he’d continue in the position. “I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity I’ve had the last two years to work every day for the country and for the men and women who serve this country. I don’t get up in the morning and worry about my job. It’s not unusual by the way, to change teams at different times.”

Pressed on whether he felt he still had Obama’s confidence, Hagel said, “Well, I don’t think I would be here if I didn’t. But you’d have to ask him that. I mean I see him all the time.”

The two most recent Secretaries of Defense have both left office and written books with sections critical of President Obama.

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a Republican and the lone holdover from the Bush to the Obama administration and he was critical of the president's leadership style.

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates on The Situation Room in January

by zbyronwolf

After Gates came Leon Panetta, who had worked for President Clinton as Chief of Staff and also headed the CIA. Panetta just recently wrote very critically of the President, particularly on the issue of ISIS and Syria.

Senate Republicans will oversee the confirmation hearings for two of President Barack Obama’s most important Cabinet secretaries: Attorney General and Defense Secretary.

Obama named Loretta Lynch as his replacement for Eric Holder on November 8; and we now wait to see whom the president will choose as Chuck Hagel’s successor.

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 4:18:41 PM

Obama thanks Hagel for speaking his mind in private

In announcing Hagel's departure, Obama thanks Hagel for always "giving it to me straight" and speaking his mind behind the closed doors of the oval office. Obama notes that he and Hagel go back to Obama's term as a senator, when he and Hagel traveled abroad on an overseas trip together.

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 4:22:54 PM

Obama's Foreign Relations friends

Hagel and Obama met when Obama was a new senator and Hagel was a veteran on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Members of that committee have been sprinkled around the Obama cabinet. Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. John Kerry were both top and long-serving members of that committee along with Hagel.

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 4:26:01 PM

Sen. Jack Reed - Not interested in Hagel's job

A top Democratic voice on defense is Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island. But he's not interested in working as Defense Secretary, his spokesman Chip Unruh tells the Providence Journal.

Senator Reed loves his job and wants to continue serving the people of Rhode Island in the United States senate,” said Unruh. “He has made it very clear that he does not wish to be considered for secretary of defense or any other Cabinet position. He just asked the people of Rhode Island to hire him for another six-year term and plans to honor that commitment.

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 4:27:59 PM

Dignified departure

Barbara Starr notes on CNN that the perception at the Pentagon is that the White House is micromanaging strategy and national security. That's why, she says, it was important to have a dignified departure for Hagel. You saw President Obama speak very warmly about Hagel and they embraced at the end.

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 4:30:05 PM

Hagel was first former enlisted man to head Pentagon

The most notable thing about Hagel's biography as Defense Secretary is that he is the first former enlisted man to head the Pentagon. He is a highly decorated Vietnam veteran. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid notes that in his statement:

Chuck Hagel is the first Vietnam veteran and enlisted man to have become Secretary of Defense. His exemplary record of service to our country in the military, as a Senator, and Secretary of Defense is outstanding. As a Senator, he was an independent voice in the Senate and a leader in the fight to get our Iraq policy right. He also worked hard to ensure that our men and women in uniform and our veterans had the resources they needed. I have enjoyed working with Chuck both as colleagues in the U.S. Senate and during his time as Defense Secretary. He is my friend and thank him for his service to our country.

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 4:30:18 PM

Here's the first CNN video report on Hagel's resignation... Jim Sciutto from Vienna (he's there reporting on nuclear talks with Iran) and Barbara Starr from the Pentagon.

Jim Acosta notes that when you put Hagel's departure along with those of Eric Holder and a few other cabinet officials in recent months, you have what amounts to a "slow motion shakeup" at the White House.

They’re gonna say well it was time for a change and all that…but I can tell you he was in my office last week, he was very frustrated. We have no strategy to combat ISIS. We have no way of helping the Ukrainians. We refuse to give the mweapons to defend themselves. We’ve watched turmoil in the far east with the Chinese asserting themselves – we see a lack of U.S. influence unlike, unknown in history.

Already the White House people are leaking well he wasn’t up to the job, believe me he was up to the job. It was the job that he was given where he really was never really brought into that real tight circle inside the White House that makes all the decisions.

I thank Chuck Hagel for his service and I know that he was really very frustrated.

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 4:48:13 PM

A hug after Hagel resigns

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 4:53:11 PM

To Barbara's point that a general cannot generally be appointed Secretary of Defense, the journalist Tome Ricks points this out... so there are some exceptions...

Timing Hagel's replacement - 'Impossible' before next year, when Republicans take control of the Senate

CNN's Ted Barrett reports: The confirmation process for Hagel’s replacement is highly unlikely before next year when the Republican-led Senate convenes, Senate leadership aides from both parties tell CNN.

A GOP aide said it would be “logistically impossible” to complete it in the two weeks senators expect to be in session in December before leaving for the holidays.

A Democratic aide said that while Democrats are “open” to considering the nomination when they return to session next week, doing so would require consent from Republicans.

“It's not impossible for this year but would require a nominee before we come back Monday and complete cooperation from Republican leadership, committee members and rank and file,” the Democratic aide said.

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 5:57:30 PM

Here is Hagel's full statement to the Pentagon employees:

I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that this morning, President Obama accepted my letter of resignation. I have agreed to continue to serve as Secretary of Defense until my successor is confirmed by the United States Senate.

You should know I did not make this decision lightly. But after much discussion, the President and I agreed that now was the right time for new leadership here at the Pentagon.

I want you to know that I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together. We have prepared ourselves, our Allies and the Afghan National Security Forces for a successful transition in Afghanistan. We have taken the fight to ISIL and, with our Iraqi and coalition partners, have blunted the momentum of this barbaric enemy. We have come to the aid of millions of people around the world who have suffered the ravages of natural disaster and of disease. We have worked tirelessly to sustain our all-volunteer force that has given so much during 13 years of war. And we have bolstered enduring alliances and strengthened emerging partnerships, all the while setting in motion important reforms that will prepare this institution for the challenges facing us in the decades to come.

Most importantly, we have helped keep this country and our fellow citizens safe. We have sustained the blessings of liberty our ancestors secured and upheld the oath we took.

That work will continue. It must continue. The world is still too dangerous, the threats too numerous, for us to lose focus. And even as I promised the President my full support going forward, so, too, do I promise that I will work hard to support you right up until my last day in office. I owe you that.

There will be time later to say farewell. For now, please know how much I respect and admire your service and that of your families. As I gather with my own family this Thanksgiving holiday -- a luxury I realize not all of you will enjoy -- it will be the privilege of having worked with you these last two years for which I will be most grateful.

Thank you for all you do for this country. God bless you. Happy Thanksgiving.

Chuck Hagel

Secretary of Defense

by zbyronwolf11/24/2014 6:40:55 PM

Thanks for tuning in... we'll wrap up this live stream. Head to CNN Politics for more of the latest on Hagel.